Indian zoo borrows oxygen cylinder after penguin struggles for life

Visitors at a zoo in Mumbai witnessed a bizarre incident, as the zoo authorities borrowed a life saving machine from a nearby hospital after an exotic penguin needed medical attention.

The Byculla zoo at the Indian city of Mumbai came under spotlight after the penguin ‘Dory’ died due to poor infrastructure at the zoo. The zoo officials did not even keep a single oxygen cylinder for the exotic animals. Just as the one-and-half-a-year-old penguin Dory was struggling for life, the zoo officials had to rush to the nearby Balaji Hospital to borrow an oxygen cylinder, oxygen mask, oxygen tubing, pulse oxymetre, oxygen humidifiers and an oxygen analyser. After the penguin died, the zoo authorities kept a stand-by oxygen cylinder to prevent future mishaps.

It was found that the penguin was experiencing breathing trouble, four days prior to the day, when the zoo finally arranged the oxygen cylinder. But the condition of the exotic animal was deteriorating and it died the very next day.

According to sources, the zoo did not have any emergency treatment room or emergency equipment except for one nebuliser in the quarantine area.

The director of the zoo, Sanjay Tripathi informed that it was true that they didn’t have an emergency room for penguins, but they had a sick room in the quarantine area.

He also informed that there was no delay and they initially put the penguin on nebuliser, as oxygen cylinder was not required at that time, but when her condition deteriorated, they immediately borrowed one from Balaji Hospital and did not waste a single minute in Dory’s treatment.

The director also informed that they would only build proper emergency ICU for the penguin when the penguin exhibit would be ready.

The zoo brought a total of eight Humboldt penguins on 26th July.

According to an animal activist Anand Siva, the Byculla zoo is not suitable for any animal as many of the animals died in the past due to poor medical infrastructure.